Flames began to spread from the corner of the warehouse.
Zhou Lin had confirmed multiple times that even if the entire warehouse burned down, it wouldn't affect other warehouses or harm innocent people.
About ten minutes later, flames shot out of the warehouse's ventilation windows. People spotted it and called the fire department.
The logistics park management called Cheng Yali. By the time Zhou Lin drove back, the fire was uncontrollable. The logistics park staff could only clear the surrounding area to prevent the fire from spreading.
Some people came to comfort Cheng Yali.
Watching his mother weep and stomp in frustration, surrounded by people, Zhou Lin felt she deserved an Oscar!
When the fire trucks arrived, the warehouse was almost completely burned down. After a blast from the high-pressure water hoses, the scene was a mess. Even a deity couldn't make sense of it, achieving Zhou Lin's desired effect perfectly.
Those who knew how many supplies Cheng Yali had recently gathered in the warehouse shook their heads, thinking the Zhou family had taken a huge loss. They also felt sorry for the burned supplies.
Normally, the police would be involved, but the increasingly chaotic order had exhausted their resources. Incidents without casualties weren't their priority.
"Mom, let's go."
Zhou Lin, with red eyes from being rubbed, helped Cheng Yali to the car.
"Hurry, let's go." Once in the car, Cheng Yali urged Zhou Lin to leave quickly. She feared her act would be exposed if she continued.
As the logistics park faded in the rearview mirror, Zhou Lin felt a bit regretful. Those warehouses held various supplies. If an opportunity arose, raiding them might yield unexpected gains.
Back home in Lanshan, Cheng Yali resumed her frantic ordering mode, but most calls either didn't connect or yielded no results.
"When you weren't home, workers installed the security doors. I'm considering welding shut the lock holes on two of them."
Wearing a helmet and work clothes, Zhou Li looked like an engineering student. But Cheng Yali couldn't bear to let her daughter do such rough work and promptly told Zhou Lin to help.
"But I don't know how," Zhou Lin protested.
"Then look it up!" Cheng Yali, hands on hips, demanded. "Your sister's delicate. What if she gets burned?"
Indeed, Zhou Li was worth more than Zhou Lin in their mother's eyes. Gender equality didn't exist in their household.
Laughing, Zhou Li said, "Brother, no need to search. I can teach you!"
"When did you learn welding?"
"Isn't it just a matter of using your hands? Besides, I seriously watched a video for half an hour. Trust me."
Amazingly, Zhou Lin, who had never welded before, managed to do it properly under Zhou Li's guidance.
"Ha, I can call myself a welder now!"
"Don't flatter yourself. Without me, you're nothing," Zhou Li scoffed.
That evening, Cheng Yali prepared hotpot as Zhou Lin had wanted. Zhou Caijun joined them, and the family enjoyed a harmonious meal.
"That woman left a bit later than you. She wasn't back when I left," Zhou Caijun said, sipping his drink.
"She said a friend came to Sichuan, and she went to meet her."
"Brother, are you being cheated on?" Zhou Li teased.
Cheng Yali knocked on Zhou Li's chopsticks. "Nonsense! A woman like that has nothing to do with your brother, you know that..."
"I was just joking. Brother, I found you a new girlfriend. Wanna meet her?"
"What?" Zhou Lin's eyes widened. "You found me a girlfriend and want me to meet her?"
"Yeah!" Zhou Li nodded. "She lives in this building."
"How did you meet?" Cheng Yali asked.
"Nearby people." Zhou Li rubbed her forehead. "We'll be homebound for a while, so I thought I'd check out everyone in the building. Know your neighbors and be prepared. If there are any dangerous ones, we should plan ahead. Better to strike first than be caught off guard..."
"Enough! Stop worrying about my business. Women only slow me down."
"Brother, you won't find a good woman in your circle. People group by type. If no one helps you..."
"It won't be you," Zhou Lin snapped.
"Don't interrupt. Li, what's her background? How does she look?" Cheng Yali interrupted, clearly trusting Zhou Li more.
"She's a PhD student in clinical medicine at Sichuan University. Definitely school beauty level, and she's from Jiazhou. She just returned from studying abroad. The disaster suspended her classes, and she came back from Chengdu yesterday."
"That's great!"
Cheng Yali nodded repeatedly, looking at Zhou Lin with disdain, as if he wasn't good enough for her.
"When will you invite her over?"
"Mom, it's the apocalypse. Why look for a girlfriend now?" Zhou Lin protested, but it was useless. Zhou Li sent a few messages and got up to open the door.
"Li!"
"Sister Xue!"
At the door, the two figures hugged like long-lost sisters, though Zhou Li had just said they met online recently.
Looking at the woman at the door, Zhou Lin felt she looked familiar.
Wu Xue didn't expect such a coincidence. Smiling at Zhou Lin, she said, "So you're Li's brother."
"What a coincidence." Zhou Lin nodded, quickly making room for her.
After Zhou Li's brief introduction, Wu Xue met the Zhou family. Just as Zhou Li described, they had met online. Despite their age difference, they shared many interests, like swimming, badminton, and guitar.
Common interests meant common ground. Wu Xue lived downstairs, though her apartment wasn't as spacious as the Zhou family's.
"Xue, can I call you that?" Cheng Yali beamed with satisfaction. "Of course. My mom calls me that. Unfortunately, they're abroad now. Flights are suspended, and communication is unreliable." Wu Xue looked worried.
"Where are they?" Cheng Yali asked.
"Europe. Last time we spoke, they were in Switzerland."
"Son, is Switzerland safe?"
Zhou Lin thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Hard to say. Fewer people, more resources, but colder than Sichuan."
"What are you talking about? What's colder?" Wu Xue asked.
Cheng Yali cleared her throat and glanced at Zhou Lin. "Better ask him. He studies climate change."
Since when do I study climate change?
Feeling wronged, Zhou Lin looked at Wu Xue's inquiring eyes. Could his mom not throw him under the bus like this?